<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Good Day!<br><div><br></div><div>A reminder that tomorrow (Saturday, July 29th) at 2pm will be the start of our Rally Against The Big Sprawl. Come join us for some fun along with groups from across the Grand River Watershed on University Avenue West at Seagram Drive (in front of the University of Waterloo) to speak up against the proposed farmland severances, forced urban sprawl, and other unsustainable provincial plans.</div><div><br></div><div>We only have until August 4th to raise awareness and encourage as many submissions as possible to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) on the provincial government’s very concerning changes and updates to the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) that forms the foundation for all planning and growth in Ontario. We need better solutions to the housing and environmental crises with affordable, sustainable, transit-supportive, and complete communities along with better planning and policies.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the rain forecast for tonight, they are forecasting gorgeous sunny, cooler, summer weather Saturday afternoon that should be perfect for a Rally on University Ave, some speeches from community organization leaders such as National Farmers Union (NFU) President Jenn Pfenning and elected officials, and then a Picnic Social in Waterloo Park by the Bandshell.</div><div><br></div><div>Our organizing committee including Hold The Line, ACORN, The Council of Canadians, The Nith Valley Ecoboosters, and other community organizations has done a fantastic job getting everything planned and ready for the day. There is a great website where you can learn more about the events:</div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://stopsprawlwr.wixsite.com/rally">https://stopsprawlwr.wixsite.com/rally</a> or <a href="https://www.50by30wr.ca/">https://www.50by30wr.ca/</a></div><div><br></div><div>The rally poster and social media graphics are attached below. Please share them online and within your networks. We also have Facebook Ads and other social media activities underway to raise awareness.</div><div><br></div><div>The location is right on the iON Light Rail Transit Line (Laurier/Waterloo Park Station), easily reached by bus from Westmount Avenue or University Avenue and there is nearby parking available to the south in Waterloo Park and to the northwest in the University of Waterloo parking lot C.</div><div><br></div><div>Please bring some friends and sunscreen, be creative with your signs, and remember snacks as well as a beverage for your picnic.</div><div><br></div><div>Let us know any questions or ideas and we hope to see you tomorrow afternoon to speak up for the future that you want to see!</div><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div id="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqtfd24641" class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770yqt1303954863"><div dir="ltr"><div style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);"><span class="ydp9fa07544yiv0892781770ydp8bacb94dyiv1865983000Apple-style-span">Cheers,</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Kevin Thomason and Mike Marcolongo on behalf of all our community groups.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div>------------------------------------</div><div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><b>Rally Advance Media Release</b></span></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div></body></html>